Poinsettia plant named ‘Dopoinpres’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Poinsettia  plant named ‘Dopoinpres’, characterized by its uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and upright branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; plants flower on or about November 18 in Southern California under natural season conditions; large inflorescences with dark red-colored flower bracts; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPOINPRES’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR AND APPLICANT

The Inventor and Applicant assert that no sales, publications oradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orthe Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exemption under35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing datebut less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dopoinpres’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Poinsettia plants having largeinflorescences with attractive flower bracts and excellentpost-production longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutationof Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Eckadire’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 12,846. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plantsof ‘Eckadire’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas,Calif. on Jan. 11, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif.since April, 2002 has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopoinpres’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dopoinpres’ as a new and distinct Poinsettiaplant:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely and upright branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Under natural season conditions, plants flower on or about        November 18 in Southern California.    -   6. Large inflorescences with dark red-colored flower bracts.    -   7. Good post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent,‘Eckadire’, in time to flower as plants of the new Poinsettia flowerabout 14 days earlier than plants of ‘Eckadire’ when grown under naturalseason conditions.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘Peterstar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,259.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differprimarily from plants of ‘Peterstar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Peterstar’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia flower about one week earlier        than plants of ‘Peterstar’ when grown under natural season        conditions.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia have dark red-colored flower        bracts whereas plants of ‘Peterstar’ have bright red-colored        flower bracts.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of theEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘PER1295’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.28,025. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differprimarily from plants of ‘PER1295’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘PER1295’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Poinsettia are not as dark green        as leaves of plants of ‘PER1295’.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia have dark red-colored flower        bracts whereas plants of ‘PER1295’ have crimson-colored flower        bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Poinsettia plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Dopoinpres’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and in the followingdetailed description were grown during the summer to late autumn in16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas,Calif. under natural season conditions and cultural practices typical ofcommercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 14° C. andlight levels ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 foot-candles. Plants werepinched one time about four weeks after sticking rooted cuttings andwere 23 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. In the following description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Dopoinpres’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Euphorbia    pulcherrima Willd. ‘Eckadire’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.    12,846.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About seven to ten days at night            temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            night temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about            27° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Uniform, upright and mounded plant            habit; inverted triangle; large inflorescences with numerous            flower bracts positioned above the foliar plane; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 34 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 48 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching            habit, about six to seven lateral branches develop after            pinching; upright branching habit. Length: About 25.5 cm.            Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to            2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Moderately glossy. Color:            Close to 146A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 12.5 cm. Width: About 11 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Obtuse with truncate tendencies. Margin:            Mostly entire to occasionally irregularly lobed; slightly            undulate. Aspect: Outwardly to slightly upright; keeled.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous;            prominent venation on lower surface. Luster, upper surface:            Slightly glossy. Luster, lower surface: Matte. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing and fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than N189A;            midvein, close to 146A and lateral venation, close to N189A.            Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147A; midvein, distally, close to 146A to 146B and            proximally, close to 146B overlain with close to 187A;            lateral venation, close to 147A. Leaf petioles: Length:            About 7.25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 187A to 187B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal inflorescences are            compound corymbs of cyathia with numerous colored flower            bracts subtending the cyathia; inflorescences uniformly            positioned above the foliar plane.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants            typically flower on or about November 18 in Southern            California; under artificial long nyctoperiod/short            photoperiod conditions, plants flower about eight weeks            later.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and            flower bract color for about four to six weeks under            interior conditions; flower bracts persistent and cyathia            not persistent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 32 cm to 35 cm.        -   Inflorescence height (depth).—About 6 cm to 9 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: Numerous, about            24 to 28. Length, largest bracts: About 15 cm. Width,            largest bracts: About 10.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Obtuse with truncate tendencies. Margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Aspect: Mostly horizontal to            slightly upright; keeled. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Slightly rugose, glabrous; satiny; prominent venation on            lower surface. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing or            transitional bracts, upper surface: Ground color, darker            green than 147A; irregular and random sectors, close to            N45A. Developing or transitional bracts, lower surface:            Ground color, close to 147B; irregular and random sectors,            close to 45A to 45B. Fully expanded bracts, upper surface:            Close to N45A. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface: Close            to N45B to N45C. Bract petioles: Length: About 5.25 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 185A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 144A variably overlain with            close to 185A.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 16 to 18. Length: About            1 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144A to            144B.        -   Nectaries.—Quantity per cyathium: One. Length: About 5.5 mm.            Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 13A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to slightly            outwardly. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A            to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium: About            15 to 20. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close            to 53A. Anther shape: Round to oval; bi-lobed. Anther            length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 12A. Amount            of pollen: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per cyathium:            One; tri-parted. Pistil length: About 7.5 mm. Stigma shape:            Lanceolate, six-parted, recurved. Stigma color: Close to            59A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 59A.            Ovary color: Close to 144A to 144B. Fruits & seeds: To date,            fruit and seed development has not been observed on plants            of the new Poinsettia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia    have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Poinsettia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about    29° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Dopoinpres’as illustrated and described.